richards



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

11. 11. RICHARDS. REGULATOR GRAINWEIGHBR.

No. 412,715. 111119111911 Dec. 16, 18911.v

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. H. RICHARDS. REGULATOR GRAIN WIEIGHRR.v

Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

(No: Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. H. RICHARDS.

REGULATOR GRAIN WEIGHBR.. 110.442.715. PatentedDeo. 16,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS, OF HRTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRATT rbXVIIITNEY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

REGULATOR GRAIN-WElGHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,715, dated December16, 1890.

Application filed February 24, 1890. Serial No. 341,499. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

vBeit known that LFEANcIs H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iuRegulator GrainlWeighers, of which the following isa specilication. l

This invention relates to regulator grainweighers of the two-valve classoperated automatically by the power or weight of the grain.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved machine of thisclass in which the scale-beam shall be free from contact with the valvemechanism during the poising period, and in which the regulation shallbe el"- fected through a shiftable valve-actuator not carried on thescale-beam.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a partot this specication,Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic grain-weigher embodying mypresent improvements with some details shown partially broken. away.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 3 is afront elevation of the parts shown in Fig.V 2 and drawn in projectiontherewith. Fig. ais a plan view ofthe bucketdetent apparatus, includinga section of one side of the frame-work and of one of the hangers. Fig.5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of thelatch-arm, thedetent-catch carried thereby, and of the bucket-catches. Fig. G is afront or end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7is a verticalsectional elevation through one end ofthe grain-bucket, including one ofthe bucket-closers and a portion'ot the supplemental closer carriedthereby. Figs. S, 9, and 10 are side elevations similar to the upperportion ot" Fig. 1 and illustrate the mode of operation of the valvemechanism and of the regular devices for operating the valvesindependently of the scalebeam.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the iigures.

The frame-work for carrying the operative parts of this machine usually,as shown in the drawings, comprises two side frames or uprights l and a,held together by the top plate 5, carrying the supply-chute H, and bysuitable tie-rods or braces. (Not shown.)

The grain-bucket G is of the well-known double-chambered type or class,and is suspended under t-he chute H and discharges its loads of graininterinittingly in the manner substantially as shown in prior LettersPatent of the United States. Said grain-bucket G is journaled'at 12 inbearings formed in the hangers 16 and 18, which are suspended byV-shaped bearings on the pivots or knifeedges and 17, respectively, otthe principal arms 19 and 2l ot the scale-beam B. This beam has V-shapedbearings 2O and 22, one at each end of the shaft thereof, which rest onthe pivots or knife-edges 24g and 26, that are suitably supported, as bybearings 23 and 25, on the frame-work. Opposite to arms 1f) and 2l anarm 28 extends rearwardly, and is provided with a pivot or knife-edge27, on which the main or counter weight lV is suspended by a hook 29.The oscillation of the bucket Gr within the hangers is limited bysuit-able stops 92 and 93, fixed on the bucket. In practicel providesuch stops at each end ot the bucket, but have herein shown them on oneend only. Said stops may be of any of the well-known kinds which areshown in prior Letters Patent for similar purposes.

The bucket-closer, as it isherein shown, consists of the closer-frame L,which comprises the two closers proper 75 and 76, and is usually formedintegral, and the two supplemental closers 79 and 80, that are pivotedat 77 and 78 to the closers 75 and 76, respectively. the bucket, nearthe bottom thereof, engage with the projecting levers or arms of thesaidsupplemental closers to open or close the same on the oscillation of thegrain-bucket. The closer 79 is trough-shaped and covers the lower edges53 and 5i, respectively, Fig. 1, of the bucket-spout and closer-plates.By this means the necessary lateral movement of the .Pins 81 and 82,fixed in the sides of bucket-spoutsis materially red uced andacombination is secured, whereby the outlet is securely closed againstgrain, While retaining a considerable space between the said parts atall points. This space or clearance is deemed important iu practice,since there is generally a considerable quant-ity of foreign substancesin the grain, and which frequently obstruct the operation ofclose-iitting bucketclosers.

The detent latch or lever 42 is pivoted at 43 to the hanger 1G. 'lhe end45 ot' said arm or lever engages with the stop or abutment 4G, hereshown fixed in the inner side of the upright 2. The detent-eatch 4i isf1tted into the arm 42 and there secured by a screw 44. Said catch 41engages with the detent catch or stop 40, that is suitably secured, asby screws or otherwise, to the side of the grainbueket. The catches ofthis detent apparatus are more fully shown in Figs. 5 and (i. The lever42 has a comparatively deep cut in the under side thereof, as shown inFig. 5,wherein is fitted the catch 41, which is held in place by thescrew 44. The sides of said catch are undercut, as at 4T, leaving thenarrow working-face 4S.

On either side of the catch 41 are stops 4), formed on the lever 42 andconstructed to tit on the upper surface of the bucket-catch 40, as shownin Fig. 5, for limiting the depth of the engagement of the catches. Itwill be observed that the end face 51 of catch 40 is arranged toslightly overlap the upper corner of the face 4S. By this means I insureanniform wearing away of the surfaces 48 and 5l, after a principle wellknown to mechanics.

The working-faces 48 and 51 are made narrow, as set forth, for apeculiar reason, to wit: It is necessary that grain-weighers be capableof continuous operation in rooms filled with a moist and dustyatmosphere, whereby there lis formed on all parts of the mechanism atough and adhesive coating resembling` glucose in its nature, and ifsaid working-faces be broad the pressure thereon is reduced relativelyto the surface thereof, so that the said glucose ord ust builds ontosaid surfaces and ultimately causes interruptions in the working of themachine. By my improvements the said faces are reduced to an area atwhich the pressure abrades the said adhesive material and grinds off thesame as fast as it is deposited, thus insuring the continued eilt ciencyof said catches. In order that said grinding action shall be effective,the face 4S, when in engagement with the face 51, extends fully down tothe lower edge of said face 5l, so that on the rising of the lever 42the entire surface 5l is subjected to said grinding action, whereby anyglutinous material adhering to the catch will be driven from the face leither below or above the same. In practice, to insure said result, thestops 49 are so adjusted or constructed that the face 48 extendsslightly below the face 5l by a distance of about one or two hundredthsof an inch, the faces l being in vertical height from one-sixteenth toone-eighth of an inch, according to the size of the machine. For similarreasons the stops 4) are tapered to a very narrow lower face, so thattheblows of said face on the catch 40, due to the violent falling downof lever 42, will abrade and pound off any accumulation of said materialbetween said face 40 and said catch 40. Another reason for the taperedsides 52, Fig. (i, of the stop 49 is that said sides act as a wedge todislodge any kernels of grain which may have fallen on said catch 40.inasmuch as perfect operation of these catches is indispensable tocorrect opera-tion of the grainweigher, the im provements here describedare highly important, since the same are found in practice to result inthe advantages herein set forth.

The rearward end c5 of the lever 42 is of a segmental form, beingsubstantially concentric to the bucket-supporting knife-edges when thebeam is at the poising-poiiiit. This secures a uniform action ot' thedetent apparatus regardless of the swaying movement of the bucket. Thisimprovement avoids the use of the bracket heretofore employed in thisclass of grain-weighers and permits the use of a single pin 46, whereongrain cannot lodge, and the said segment having its working-face on theunder side thereof no grain can lodge on said face. By means of thiscombination of the inverted movable segment with the `fitted stop-pinperfect; security is obtained against accidents from grain being caughtbetween the detent-lever and the bracket for actuating said lever.

The regulator-hopper P is pivoted at 98 to the uprights 2 and 4 and isfurnished with the weighted arm l0, having thereon a suitablecounter-weight 11. Said hopper, acting through the rod 13 and otherconnecting devices, operates the regulator devices for closing thevalves GO and 70, and thereby regulates the iiow of grain into thegrain-bucltet- This regulator-hopper is not of my sole invention, but isdescribed and claimed in a separate application, Serial No. 340,284,filed by C. Il. Cooley and ll. Richards February 13, 1890, to whichapplication reference may be had for a full description thereof.

The reducing-valve UO is carried by the arms 62 and (i4, which are fixedto the pivot or valve-shaft G1, that is liournaled in suitable bearingsformed on the supply-chute ll, a suitable stop, as (i0, being providedto limit the closing movement of said valve. The valve GO is operatedfrom the scale-beam through the beam-arm 7l, carried by the arm 21 ofsaid beam. Said arm 71 acts ou the weighted valve-lever ft), which isfixed to one end of the pivot-shaft (i1. lVhen the arm (if) is loweredor raised by the operation of the beam-arm 71, the said arm (357, beingfixed to the shaft (i1, turns said shaft in its bearings, and therebyopens or closes the reducingvalve GO, as the ease may be. This featureof my present improvements is not of my in vention, but is described andclaimed in the prior application ot' C. 1I. Cooley, Serial No. 338,818,led January 3l, 1590, to which I have permission to refer.

rlhe cut-off valve TO is carried by the arms IIO 72 and 74, which arepivoted at 63 and 68 to the sides of the chute H. Some suitable stop, as73, is provided to properly limit the closing movement of this valve.The valve is both a cutoff valve and a regulator-valve. For the firstpurpose it is operated directly from the reducing-valve 60, and for thesecond purpose from the hopper P through the shiftable valve-actuator58. This actuator is carried on a pivot 56, which normally has a iixedrelation to the valve 60, as shown in Figs. 1., 8, and 9, sov that assaid valve 60 is moved the said actuator' is carried with it.

VAssuming the construction and arrangement to be thus, the regularoperation is as follows: The actuator 58 has acatch 57 formed thereon toengage the arm 59 of the cut-off valve 70. A small counterweight 52serves to normally hold the actuator 58 in engagement with the arm 59.Then the valve 60 is opened, as in Fig. l, the catch 57 comes forward ofarm 59, as there shown, and on the closing of said valve 60 said catch57 engages said arm 59 and opens the cut-off valve, as shown in Fig. 8.The main column of grain having been thus cut off by the valve 60 theopening of valve 70 allows the drip to iiow until the bucket-load iscompleted. This being done the beam descends, as in Fig. 9, until thestop 55 on said beam strikes the end of said actuator 58 and detachesthe catch 57, thereby permitting the valve 70 to close, as in Fig. 9. Onthe rising again of the scale-beam, as in Fig. 1, the valve 60 is againopened and the said several parts are in position for repeating saidoperations, which constitute the ordinary and regular action of themachine.

For effecting the regulation of the machine the said valve-actuator ismade shiftable relatively to the principal valve. This shifting movementmay be accomplished by means of various mechanical devices, but isproperly accomplished as follows: The actuator 58 is pivotally supportedat 56 on the actuator-carrier'91, which is pivoted at 96 to the arm 89,fixed on the shaft 61. The carrier 91 is shifted or turned on its saidpivot 9G by means of links or toggles 87 and 97, which connect the upperond of said carrier with the pivot 88 on the opposite arm 101, alsofixed on shaft 61. iVhen the said links are in a line, as in Figs. Sand9, the pivot 100 should stand about in alignment with the axis of shaft61, so that the movement on the axis of said shaft and the parts carriedthereby will notI materially operate said links or the carrier 91. Foractuating the toggle-linksI connect their centerl pivot 100 by a link 85to the end 86 of the lever 83, which is pivoted at 81 to the chute Handat its opposite end 67 to the rod 13, that is actuated by the hopper P.By means of this or any similar connecting device the descent of hopperP by the accumulation of grain therein shifts the carrier 91 to throwthe shiftable valve-actuator from its operative position (shown in Figs.1, 8, `and 9) toits inoperative position. (ShowninFiglO.) This allowsthe valve 70 to close, whether the valve 60 be closed or open,and thusresults in stopping the operation of the lnachine. On the discharge ofthe grain from the regulator P said regulator rises, and by operating(through connections substantially such as described) theactuator-carrier forces open the valve 70, as in Fig. 8, thus allowingthe drip to flow into the bucket to start the machine, which thencontinues operating, as hereinbefore set forth, until the regulatoragain operates to close the said cut-off valve.

In Fig. 1 the reducing-valve 60 is shown fully open, and thebucket-closer and the supplemental closer 79 closed under thedischarge-chute 34 of the bucket. The cut-off valve 70 being simply hungon the pivots 63 and 68 is closed by its own weight or by a weight (notshown) in a well-known manner. The grain descends from the supply-chuteH into the forward chamber of the bucket G until the major part of aload (enough to overcome the weight NV, minus weight 69) has been l madeup by the full flow of grain into the bucket. This lowers the beam andoperates the arm 71 to permit the weighted lever 69 to close thereducing-valve 60, and at the same time throws back the actuator 58,whose catch 57 coming in contact with the arm 59 Opens the cut-oif valve70. The parts having assumed the positions shown in Fig. 8, the flow ofgrain into the bucket has been thus reduced to a drip, and as the loadis fully made up by the drip the beam further descends until thecontact-screw 55 engages and trips the actuator 58, as hereinbefore setforth, to allow the cut-olf valve 70 to close under the discharge-chute65 of the supply-chute H, thus fully cutting off the Iiow of graintherefrom, as shown in Fig. 9. As the beam andthe bucket carried therebydescend, the end .45 of detent-latch 42 strikes the pin 4G, disengagingthe detent-catch 41 of said latch from the bucket-catch 40. The weightof grain in the forward chamber of the bucket causes the said bucket toturn on its pivot 12 and to swing over until ths stop 92 comesin contactwith the hanger 16 and the rear compartment of the bucket has come to aposition directly under the discharge-chute 65 of the chute H. Inswinging over the discharge-chute 34 of bucket swings clear of thebucket-closer 75, and the pin 81 of said bucket coming in contact withthe arm of the supplemental closer 79 opens said closer and the saidload of grain is discharged into the regulator. The swinging of saidbucket also and at the said time brings the discharge-chute 36 of saidbucket directly over the closer 76, and the pin 82, engaging with thearm of the supplemental closer 80, closes said closer. As the load isdischarged from the bucket G, the beam rises, opening the valve 60, whenthe grain iiows into the rear compartment of the bucket and theabove-described operations are repeated.

IOO

IIO

In this machine the scale-beam during the poising period is freeot allfriction due to contact with any part of the. valve mechanism, thusinsuring a sensitive action thereof. The force required to detach thecatch 57 is extremely slight and is readily supplied by a very slightmovement and momentum of the descending bucket.

In this application, and generally in this art, when reference is madeto the downward movement of the scale-beam, the downward movement ot thebucket-supporting arms thereof is meant.

For regulating the duration ot' the poising period of the scale-beammovement the stop is made adjustable on the bea-m, being usually ascrew-stop carried by the beam-a r m 19, substantially as shown.

In referring to the actuator 5S in the broader sense it is said to becarried by the reducing-valve, since this valve and all the partsthereto rigidly affixed or connected constitute for some purposes oneintegral elementot the combinations comprised in this invention.

Thatt'eature of the grain-weigher herein described which consists in theshiftable valveactuator normally operated by the scale-beam andexceptionally operated by the regulator, is broadly claimed in aseparate application, Serial No. 340,814, tiled February 17, itl-9o, towhich reference may be had.

It will ot course be understood that other kinds of regulators than thatherein shown may be used tor effecting the shifting of the valveactuatoron the reducngvalve. One such other kind is described in Letters Patentof the United States No. 410,116, granted to me August 27, i889, andstill other suitable kinds are shown in prior Letters Patent.

Having thus` described my invention, I claiml. In a grain-weigher, thecombination, wi th the supply-chute and the scale-beam, ot thereducing-valve constructed and supported to close under said chute andto be actuated 'from said beam, the cut-ott valve, and a valveactuatorcarried by the reducing-valve and normally operating to open the cut-ottvalve on the closing ot the reducing-valve.

In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the supply-chute and thesealebeam, ot the reducing-valve constructed and supported to closeunder said chtite and to be actuated from said bcam,the cut-oit` valve,and a valveactuator carried by the reducing-valve and normally operatingto open the cut-oil' valve on the closing ot' the reducingwalve, (saidactuator' being shiftable, substantially as decribed,) andaetmttor-shitting devices operating to throw said actuator into aninoperative position.

S. In agrain-weiglmr, the con'ibination, with the snpply-chute and thescale-beam, of the reducing-valve constructed and supported to closeunder said chute and to be actuated from said beam, the cut-oil' valve,a valveactuator zarrier supported by the reducingvalve and movablerelatively thereto, the actuator' carried by said carrier and adapted toopen said cut-ott' valve on the closing of the reducing-valve, andcarrier-shitting devices operating to shift said carrier relatively tosaid reducing-valve for throwing said actuator into an inoperativeposition.

t. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the supply-chute and thescale-beam, of the redncing-valve constructed and supported to closeunder said chute and to be actuated Afrom said beam, the cut-oft valve,the actuator-carrier supported by the reducing-valve and movablerelatively thereto, the actuator carried by said carrier, toggle-linksoperating the carrier, and connections operating said toggle :t'rom aregulator.

5. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the supply-chute and thescale-beam, ot the red ucing-valve, the cut-ott' valve, thevalveactuator carrier movable on said reducing valve, the actuatorsupported on said carrier, and carrier-shifting devices operating saidcarrier independently ot' the redueing-vz'tlve, whereby the actuator maybe thrown into an inoperative position.

G. lnagrain-weigher, thecombination,with the supply-chute and thescale-bea1n, of the reducingvalve constructed and supportedsubstantially as described and to be actuated from said beam, thecut-oil' valve, the valveactuator carried on the reducing-valve andoperating to open the eut-ott valve on the closing ot saidreducing-valve, and the stop on the beam set to disengage said actuatorand allow the cut-ott valve to close.

7. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the supply-chute and thescale-beam, of the reducing-valve, the cut-ot`f valve, the valveactuatorcarried on the reducing-valve and operating to open the cut-ott valve onthe closing ot said reducing-valve, and the adjustable stop on the beam,whereby the time ofthe disengagement ol said actuator may be regulated.

' S. In agrain-weigher,the combination,with the supply-chute and thescale-beam, ot' the reducing-valve, the movable carrier on said valve,regulator apparatus connected to shift said carrier independently of themovement of the reducingvalve, the valve-actuator on said carrier andhaving a catch, the cut-oil valve having an arm adapted to engage saidcatch, and the stop on the beam arranged to disengage saidactuator-catch on the downward movement ol the beam.

t). ln agrain-weigher, the combination, with the supplychutc and thescale-beam, ot' the valve tJ'tLsuppoi-ted to swing under saidchute andadapted to be actuated Vfrom said beam, the carrier 01, pivotallysupported on an arm fixed to said valve, the actuator 58, having acatch, valve 70, having arm 59, and a stop on the beam operating todisengage said actuator from said valve 70.

lO. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the reducing-valvecarrying pivots 96 IIO and 88, of the carrier 9i, supported on pivot 96,the toggle connected to pivot SS and to one end of the carrier,connections operating said toggle from the regulator, the cut-oft valve,and the actuator-supported on said carrier for operating said cut-offvalve.

ll. 1n a grain-weigher, the combination, with the hangers suspended fromthe scalebeam, ot the oscillating bucket supported in the hangers andhavin g discharge-spouts, substantially as described, thenon-oscillating closers fixed on the hangers below said spouts, thesupplemental closers pivotally supported to close under the spacesbetween the spouts and fixed closers, and means operating thesupplemental closers through the movement of the bucket in the hangers.

19. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the hangers and theoscillating bucket supported therein and with a fixed closer,substantially as described, on said hanger below the bucket-spout, ofthe concave supplemental closer pivotally supported under the lower edgeof the fixed closer, and means, substantially as described, operativelyconnected with the bucket, whereby the concave closer is raised underthe lower edge of the bucketspout on the movement of said spout over thefixed closer.

13. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the bucket, the hangers,and the fixed closer 34, of the concaved closer 79, pivoted to saidfixed closer and having means whereby it is operated from the bucket.

14. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the moving bucket havingthereon the narrow detent-catch faces 51, of the detentlever carrying acatch undercut to forma correspondingly narrow working-face, and stopson said lever 'limiting the depth of engagement of said faces andconstructed to permit one catch to pass entirely over the face of theother catch.

15. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the moving bucket havingthereon narrow det-ent-catch faces, of the detent-lever carrying thecatch 4l, undercut at the sides thereof to form narrow working-faces,and the stops 49 011 said lever adjoining said catch and constructed tolimit the movement of said catch 4l to fully cover the detent-catch faceon the bucket.

16. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the moving bucket havingcatch 40 cut away to form the narrow working-faces 5l at the endsthereof, of the lever 42, having the catch 4l engaging said faces 5l,and stops on said lever adapted to strike said catch 40 for limiting theengagement of said workingfaces.

17. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with the moving bucket having acatclnsubstantially as described, of the detent-lever having a catchengaging said bucket-catch, and the stops on the lever for limiting theengagement of said catches, said stops having the inclined sides 52 fordislodging obstructions on the catch 40.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses:

HENRY L. RECKARD, W. M. BYORKMAN.

